Local Reference Tool
Kansas City leaf-drop calendar
When each KC tree species drops its leaves — so you know exactly when to schedule gutter cleaning.
Kansas City's worst gutter-clogging trees drop leaves in three waves: early drop (cottonwood, honey locust) starts mid-September, peak drop (silver maple, sweetgum, sycamore) runs mid-October to early November, and late drop (pin oak, bur oak, ginkgo) finishes in mid-to-late November. Schedule a gutter cleaning the first week of December to catch everything.
The KC tree leaf-drop calendar (2026)
| Tree species | Drop window & peak | Severity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Maple Acer saccharinum |
Sep 24 – Oct 29 Peak: Oct 08 |
Heavy | One of KC's worst gutter cloggers. Massive seed pods drop earlier (May-June) and clog gutters all summer. |
| Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua |
Oct 01 – Nov 12 Peak: Oct 22 |
Very Heavy | Drops both leaves AND spiky 'gumball' seed pods. Pods don't compost — they sit in gutters for years without guards. |
| Sycamore Platanus occidentalis |
Sep 24 – Nov 05 Peak: Oct 15 |
Very Heavy | Large palm-shaped leaves clog gutters instantly. Also drops fuzzy seed balls in spring. |
| Pin Oak Quercus palustris |
Oct 15 – Dec 10 Peak: Nov 05 |
Heavy | Holds leaves late into November — often the LAST tree to drop. Cleanings before Thanksgiving are essential. |
| Red Oak Quercus rubra |
Oct 08 – Nov 26 Peak: Oct 29 |
Heavy | Sturdy leaves don't decompose quickly — they sit in gutters all winter without guards. |
| White Oak Quercus alba |
Oct 08 – Nov 26 Peak: Oct 29 |
Heavy | Similar to red oak. Holds leaves longer than maples. |
| Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa |
Oct 15 – Dec 03 Peak: Nov 05 |
Heavy | Also drops giant acorns that dent aluminum gutters. |
| Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos |
Sep 17 – Oct 22 Peak: Oct 01 |
Medium | Tiny leaflets fall continuously over weeks. Easier to clean but spreads the work over a long window. |
| American Elm Ulmus americana |
Sep 24 – Nov 05 Peak: Oct 15 |
Medium | Smaller leaves; less clog risk than maples but still significant. |
| Hackberry Celtis occidentalis |
Sep 24 – Oct 29 Peak: Oct 08 |
Medium | Native to KC. Drops both leaves and small berries that stain gutters. |
| Cottonwood Populus deltoides |
Sep 17 – Oct 22 Peak: Oct 08 |
Heavy | Spring cottonwood fluff is its own gutter problem — clogs guards and downspouts in May. |
| Bradford Pear Pyrus calleryana |
Oct 08 – Nov 19 Peak: Oct 29 |
Medium | Drops late but messily. Often snaps in KC windstorms (weak branch structure). |
| Norway Maple Acer platanoides |
Oct 01 – Nov 12 Peak: Oct 22 |
Heavy | Larger leaves than silver maple, similar clog impact. |
| Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera |
Oct 01 – Nov 05 Peak: Oct 15 |
Medium-Heavy | Big leaves; common in older KC neighborhoods like Hyde Park. |
| Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba |
Oct 22 – Nov 19 Peak: Nov 05 |
Heavy (but quick) | Famous for dropping ALL leaves in a 24-48 hr window in early-mid November. Schedule cleaning the week after. |
| River Birch Betula nigra |
Sep 17 – Oct 15 Peak: Oct 01 |
Light | Sheds early but lightly. Less of a gutter problem than its size suggests. |
The 3-cleaning rule for KC homes with mature trees
- Late September: First cleaning. Catches early honey locust + cottonwood + start of maples.
- Early November: Second cleaning. Catches the bulk of maple/sycamore/sweetgum drop.
- Early December: Final cleaning. Catches late-dropping oaks + ginkgo + ensures winter ice can't dam.
If you have LeafBlaster Pro guards: You can skip the November cleaning and still be fine. Guard cleanings every 2-3 years instead of 3x/yr.
Worst KC neighborhoods for leaf drop
- Brookside (64113) — silver maple + pin oak everywhere
- Waldo (64114) — mature maple canopy
- Hyde Park (64111) — historic with massive sycamores
- Volker (64111) — heavy maple shade
- Rockhill (64113) — mature oak canopy
- Anywhere in 64113 — the dropping zone
Related tools
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